Clothing contaminated by mold is not a fun thing to have to deal with, especially if it happens to affect an old favorite item of clothing that we found lying in the back of a closet or behind a dresser. We are usually hesitant to throw it away, but sometimes we are unsure if the item can be completely cleansed or not.
The Bible talks about mold contaminated clothing in ancient times and these items were always seen as untreatable and were always thrown away. It is fortunate that these days we know that these items can usually be completely cleaned, but we may not be able to completely get rid of the stain the mold left behind. This is particularly true for leather items, since this is a piece of dead skin and the natural role of mold is to decompose dead organic matter.
The cause of moldy clothing usually has something to do with moisture and forgetfulness. Sometimes we get our clothes wet and just toss them into the laundry basket or into the bathroom closet and forget about them. Doing this is a mistake, because if they are not dried within about 48 hours, mold will start to grow on them. What is even worse is that dry clothing is usually thrown on top of it and the infestation spreads to other clothes. Mold can also start growing on items that have been left behind dressers or in closets that become humid and do not get enough ventilation.
Molded clothing can usually be cleaned by using borax laundry detergent in the washing machine and allowing the clothes to soak for a few hours. Wash in warm to hot water, depending on what the clothing’s dye will tolerate without the colors bleeding everywhere.
After the clothes are done the first time, using a stain remover on them before washing them the second time could help remove any stains that may exist on the clothes. Washing the clothes at least twice is generally recommended, since most of the time it takes more than once to get rid of the infestation completely. Do not use your dryer to dry moldy clothes, however, since an artificial heat source like this usually sets the stain further into the fabric. Put the clothes outside to dry instead.
Depending on the amount of clothing that you have to wash and re-wash, it might be easier to just throw the afflicted clothing away than try to restore it, especially if there are a lot of stains. Most clothing is salvageable, though, as long as you treat it properly
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Emergency Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Sump Pumps and Flooded Basements
If you have ever had a flooded basement, then you know that the cleanup process can be both expensive and can take quite a while. Drying out a basement completely can take days or weeks and replacing the damaged carpet and furniture can cost thousands. Installing a sump pump is the best thing that you can do to defend your basement from floods.
Flooding in your basement is typically caused by soil that is so saturated with water that the water starts to seep through the concrete walls. What sump pumps do is pump water out of the lowest part of the basement before the water reaches the level of the rest of the floor. When the water level in the basement rises up, the excess water is pumped into a sump pump hole and after it reaches a critical level, it starts to pump it out of the home through a pipe and away from the foundation.
Flooding can also end up causing problems with the plumbing, rotting wood, or a damaged foundation. These will all reduce the value of your home greatly and all water damage can lead to mold growth, which is a problem all to itself. Installing a sump pump into the basement can save you all kinds of money by safeguarding your basement belongings from flooding.
When you do install one, you need to check it regularly to be certain that it is working correctly. Do this by removing the cover and slowly pouring water into the tank. The float in the tank should rise and trigger the pump to start. When the pump turns on, the water level inside the tank will quickly go down and the float will trigger the pump’s shut off. This is how a sump pump should operate normally.
Most problems with a sump pump’s operation are related to the float. The float could be getting stuck on something inside the tank if the pump does not activate as it should. Repositioning it should probably fix the problem, but if it does not, the float may need to be replaced. The pump should turn completely off when the water level goes to the very bottom of the tank and if it does not, then a new float will be needed.
Some homes even have backup sump pumps, but if you keep an eye on the one that your home already has or the one you just installed, you should be fine. If excess water flows into your sump pump, it may completely shut off. Foreign objects getting into the pump will also cause it to malfunction.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Emergency Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Flooding in your basement is typically caused by soil that is so saturated with water that the water starts to seep through the concrete walls. What sump pumps do is pump water out of the lowest part of the basement before the water reaches the level of the rest of the floor. When the water level in the basement rises up, the excess water is pumped into a sump pump hole and after it reaches a critical level, it starts to pump it out of the home through a pipe and away from the foundation.
Flooding can also end up causing problems with the plumbing, rotting wood, or a damaged foundation. These will all reduce the value of your home greatly and all water damage can lead to mold growth, which is a problem all to itself. Installing a sump pump into the basement can save you all kinds of money by safeguarding your basement belongings from flooding.
When you do install one, you need to check it regularly to be certain that it is working correctly. Do this by removing the cover and slowly pouring water into the tank. The float in the tank should rise and trigger the pump to start. When the pump turns on, the water level inside the tank will quickly go down and the float will trigger the pump’s shut off. This is how a sump pump should operate normally.
Most problems with a sump pump’s operation are related to the float. The float could be getting stuck on something inside the tank if the pump does not activate as it should. Repositioning it should probably fix the problem, but if it does not, the float may need to be replaced. The pump should turn completely off when the water level goes to the very bottom of the tank and if it does not, then a new float will be needed.
Some homes even have backup sump pumps, but if you keep an eye on the one that your home already has or the one you just installed, you should be fine. If excess water flows into your sump pump, it may completely shut off. Foreign objects getting into the pump will also cause it to malfunction.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Emergency Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Mold On Your Property
Mold growing in our homes can cause a lot of damage to both the home’s structure and to our health and it typically grows in areas of our homes that are dark, damp, and/or warm. Any combination of these three can cause mold to grow, but the areas most often affected are kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms. Food, carpet, wallpaper, and closets are also affected, but generally to a lesser degree unless they are located in or near the aforementioned rooms.
Mold causes damage to the air quality of your home and even though we are exposed to mold on a daily basis without much harm to us, high quantities of mold spores in the air that we breathe can be very hazardous to our health. It tends to aggravate pre-existing conditions such as asthma, sinusitis, and allergies. Common symptoms of mold exposure in homes usually include sore throats, very dry coughing, blurry vision, sinus congestion, sneezing, and other respiratory problems. If you think that there is mold in your home, you should conduct some mold testing either on your own or by using a professional and contact a physician as soon as possible.
Molded wallpaper can also become a problem. When located in a warm environment, vinyl wallpaper has the ability to trap moist air behind it and this will create a breeding ground for mold. Mold eats at the drywall behind the wallpaper, the adhesive on the wallpaper, and also the wallpaper itself. Removing the wallpaper and the drywall completely is usually the only way to solve this problem, especially if the mold has been growing there for a long time and the infestation is extensive. Drywall is porous and cannot usually be completely cleansed once mold infects the whole depth of the board.
Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms should have steam vents installed so that steam has a place to go. These vents direct steam and hot air outside and away from your home so that moisture does not become absorbed by your walls and ceilings.
Carpet mold is a big problem in flooded areas and as soon as you can, damp or wet carpet must be taken up completely. Carpet cleaning will generally not kill mold infestations, so it and the padding underneath it must be removed and thrown away.
Wearing mold contaminated clothing can cause skin rashes and other irritations, so cleaning these items or throwing them away is recommended. Borax and hydrogen peroxide in the washing machine should do the trick, but the clothes need to be soaked in this mixture for a while before washing. Then, they should be washed a second time after having also soaked a second time.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Orlando water damage restoration companies and
Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
Mold causes damage to the air quality of your home and even though we are exposed to mold on a daily basis without much harm to us, high quantities of mold spores in the air that we breathe can be very hazardous to our health. It tends to aggravate pre-existing conditions such as asthma, sinusitis, and allergies. Common symptoms of mold exposure in homes usually include sore throats, very dry coughing, blurry vision, sinus congestion, sneezing, and other respiratory problems. If you think that there is mold in your home, you should conduct some mold testing either on your own or by using a professional and contact a physician as soon as possible.
Molded wallpaper can also become a problem. When located in a warm environment, vinyl wallpaper has the ability to trap moist air behind it and this will create a breeding ground for mold. Mold eats at the drywall behind the wallpaper, the adhesive on the wallpaper, and also the wallpaper itself. Removing the wallpaper and the drywall completely is usually the only way to solve this problem, especially if the mold has been growing there for a long time and the infestation is extensive. Drywall is porous and cannot usually be completely cleansed once mold infects the whole depth of the board.
Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms should have steam vents installed so that steam has a place to go. These vents direct steam and hot air outside and away from your home so that moisture does not become absorbed by your walls and ceilings.
Carpet mold is a big problem in flooded areas and as soon as you can, damp or wet carpet must be taken up completely. Carpet cleaning will generally not kill mold infestations, so it and the padding underneath it must be removed and thrown away.
Wearing mold contaminated clothing can cause skin rashes and other irritations, so cleaning these items or throwing them away is recommended. Borax and hydrogen peroxide in the washing machine should do the trick, but the clothes need to be soaked in this mixture for a while before washing. Then, they should be washed a second time after having also soaked a second time.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Orlando water damage restoration companies and
Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
Information on Water Damaged Paper Materials
When you have a large amount of books and papers in your home, knowing how to salvage these items in case of a flood or hurricane is a good idea, especially if these items are old or of any particular sentimental value. Most cellulose-based materials react basically the same way to water: they absorb it. But, depending on what exactly the material is made out of, how old it is, and what condition the paper was in before it was submerged into the water. Knowing as much as you can about your book collection, particularly if it contains antique books or other paper materials, will help you be able to save these items should a catastrophe occur.
Some materials can absorb anywhere from 10 percent all the way up to 200 percent of their original weight in water. Any papers or books that were made before the year 1840 can absorb some fairly large amounts of water, up to around 80 percent. These older materials are also very sensitive to mold growth after they have been under water for some time.
The majority of the damage to books is the block of papers that make up the pages of the book becoming partially or wholly detached from the binding of the book. This happens because the water that was absorbed by the papers and the cardboard binding causes them to swell up and the glue used to bind them together no longer holds the pages in their intended places. This is usually noticed once the materials have already started to dry out by themselves and the humidity in the local environment falls under 70 percent.
If the books that you own are old and are made of leather or vellum, these can usually be salvaged as long as you use some carefully controlled drying techniques. Very old leather and vellum materials should not be mixed up with other newer materials of the same nature, since new leather covered books are usually chemically treated in some way.
When you start trying to dry out your books and papers after a flood is over with, the first thing that you need to do is try to stabilize the area as far as humidity. The humidity should be lowered to around 65 percent and any standing water that still exists in the home should be gotten rid of as quickly as possible. If the humidity outside is lower than it is inside, opening the doors and windows should also help.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Miami water damage restoration companies and
mold remediation companies across the united states.
Some materials can absorb anywhere from 10 percent all the way up to 200 percent of their original weight in water. Any papers or books that were made before the year 1840 can absorb some fairly large amounts of water, up to around 80 percent. These older materials are also very sensitive to mold growth after they have been under water for some time.
The majority of the damage to books is the block of papers that make up the pages of the book becoming partially or wholly detached from the binding of the book. This happens because the water that was absorbed by the papers and the cardboard binding causes them to swell up and the glue used to bind them together no longer holds the pages in their intended places. This is usually noticed once the materials have already started to dry out by themselves and the humidity in the local environment falls under 70 percent.
If the books that you own are old and are made of leather or vellum, these can usually be salvaged as long as you use some carefully controlled drying techniques. Very old leather and vellum materials should not be mixed up with other newer materials of the same nature, since new leather covered books are usually chemically treated in some way.
When you start trying to dry out your books and papers after a flood is over with, the first thing that you need to do is try to stabilize the area as far as humidity. The humidity should be lowered to around 65 percent and any standing water that still exists in the home should be gotten rid of as quickly as possible. If the humidity outside is lower than it is inside, opening the doors and windows should also help.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Miami water damage restoration companies and
mold remediation companies across the united states.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Things to Know About Water Damaged Vehicles
You might not know it, but if a vehicle is caught in a flood and is partially or even entirely submerged, it isn’t always taken off to the junk yard for scrap. Many times these card are sold through salvage auctions, taken to far off locations, and cleaned up for re-sale. It’s not often the case that these cars that are being re-sold are identified as having been flooded before.
There are a lot of things you should know about water damaged vehicles. Any vehicle that has sustained water damaged is susceptible to mold growth in the vehicle’s interior, especially if the vehicle was allowed to sit untreated in warm temperatures and dry naturally. If the doors to the car or truck have been left shut and it’s been let to try naturally, the musty odor inside will be very prevalent and you won’t have to have any kind of training to detect it. Some dishonest car dealers (or private owners trying to get rid of the car) will try to mask the smell of the water damage with all manner of air fresheners and if you smell anything pleasant while looking inside a car that obviously isn’t brand new, you should probably walk away because they’re hiding something.
Look for any kind of rust in the interior of the car and the trunk, especially near the taillights and check the carpeting for signs of damage. Carpet that has soaked up water and hasn’t been properly treated will most likely stink, especially if it’s been submerged in the sewer water that’s often brought to the surface by flooding.
You might think that if the water dries out, the engine of the vehicle will be just fine, but this probably isn’t the case if it hasn’t been restored by a professional. Sewage, sand, and other debris could have seeped into it and cause misfirings and blown gaskets.
Water damaged vehicles can also suffer electrical problems, especially in newer models where most things are monitored electrically like timing on headlights, the radio, when the oil needs to be changed, and all the way down to how many miles are on the car.
Unless the carpet and its padding were removed and the interior cleaned by a professional and the car was submerged in sewer water, high levels of bacteria and mold are very possible, too.
Paying for a vehicle history from Carfax.com could be beneficial if you get the car’s VIN, but please be aware that the car will only show up as having been flood damaged if an insurance agent has looked at the car and it was recorded. If the vehicle history report doesn’t show it was flooded, but it appears to be water damaged, back away. You’re likely to find a better deal somewhere else.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Miami water damage restoration companies and
mold remediation companies across the united states.
There are a lot of things you should know about water damaged vehicles. Any vehicle that has sustained water damaged is susceptible to mold growth in the vehicle’s interior, especially if the vehicle was allowed to sit untreated in warm temperatures and dry naturally. If the doors to the car or truck have been left shut and it’s been let to try naturally, the musty odor inside will be very prevalent and you won’t have to have any kind of training to detect it. Some dishonest car dealers (or private owners trying to get rid of the car) will try to mask the smell of the water damage with all manner of air fresheners and if you smell anything pleasant while looking inside a car that obviously isn’t brand new, you should probably walk away because they’re hiding something.
Look for any kind of rust in the interior of the car and the trunk, especially near the taillights and check the carpeting for signs of damage. Carpet that has soaked up water and hasn’t been properly treated will most likely stink, especially if it’s been submerged in the sewer water that’s often brought to the surface by flooding.
You might think that if the water dries out, the engine of the vehicle will be just fine, but this probably isn’t the case if it hasn’t been restored by a professional. Sewage, sand, and other debris could have seeped into it and cause misfirings and blown gaskets.
Water damaged vehicles can also suffer electrical problems, especially in newer models where most things are monitored electrically like timing on headlights, the radio, when the oil needs to be changed, and all the way down to how many miles are on the car.
Unless the carpet and its padding were removed and the interior cleaned by a professional and the car was submerged in sewer water, high levels of bacteria and mold are very possible, too.
Paying for a vehicle history from Carfax.com could be beneficial if you get the car’s VIN, but please be aware that the car will only show up as having been flood damaged if an insurance agent has looked at the car and it was recorded. If the vehicle history report doesn’t show it was flooded, but it appears to be water damaged, back away. You’re likely to find a better deal somewhere else.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Miami water damage restoration companies and
mold remediation companies across the united states.
Step Two of Drying Out Water Damaged Properties
The second half of the drying process of water damaged homes or buildings should begin by removing any water damaged items from the home like furniture, paintings, photographs, and etcetera and allowing them to dry out outside the home. Squeeze as much water as possible out of couch cushions and try to leave them outside in the sun for as little time as possible, because sun damage can also occur if they’re left exposed for too long.
If the floors of your home are covered in mud or silt, washing them with clean water is usually the only solution. Don’t rush the drying of the floors or what is called warping or buckling and if you can, remove any insulation from under the floor to allow air to circulate. Rapid drying of hardwood floors by using heating, air conditioning, or other forced air to help dry the floors can cause cupping. Completely drying them naturally can take weeks or months.
Any electrical components in the house, like AC outlets, should be replaced if the water level was high enough to damage them. Again, make sure there is no electricity running to that area of your building or even to the entire building itself. When dealing with flooded properties, the possibility of electrocution is great.
Don’t be so quick to remove all the water in your basement. The walls of the basement could collapse due to the ground outside that is still saturated with water and the water still standing in your basement could be the only thing stopping this. After the water around the house has drained away, pump out two or three feet, mark the water level, and wait until the next day. If the water level in the basement rises, don’t continue pumping out the water.
In most cases, washing wet mud away from objects with clean water before drying them is a good idea. Unless it’s an antique item of special significance, this is generally the way to go. If it does fall into the category of antique or historic, consult a specialist as quickly as possible.
Air circulation through the building is essential to drying it out entirely. Heaters should not be used and air conditioners should be used sparingly, if at all. Forcing the building to dry unnaturally can possibly cause even more damage.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Mold Remediation and
water damage restoration> companies across the united states.
If the floors of your home are covered in mud or silt, washing them with clean water is usually the only solution. Don’t rush the drying of the floors or what is called warping or buckling and if you can, remove any insulation from under the floor to allow air to circulate. Rapid drying of hardwood floors by using heating, air conditioning, or other forced air to help dry the floors can cause cupping. Completely drying them naturally can take weeks or months.
Any electrical components in the house, like AC outlets, should be replaced if the water level was high enough to damage them. Again, make sure there is no electricity running to that area of your building or even to the entire building itself. When dealing with flooded properties, the possibility of electrocution is great.
Don’t be so quick to remove all the water in your basement. The walls of the basement could collapse due to the ground outside that is still saturated with water and the water still standing in your basement could be the only thing stopping this. After the water around the house has drained away, pump out two or three feet, mark the water level, and wait until the next day. If the water level in the basement rises, don’t continue pumping out the water.
In most cases, washing wet mud away from objects with clean water before drying them is a good idea. Unless it’s an antique item of special significance, this is generally the way to go. If it does fall into the category of antique or historic, consult a specialist as quickly as possible.
Air circulation through the building is essential to drying it out entirely. Heaters should not be used and air conditioners should be used sparingly, if at all. Forcing the building to dry unnaturally can possibly cause even more damage.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Mold Remediation and
water damage restoration> companies across the united states.
Drying Out Water Damaged Properties
As you can imagine, drying out a home or other building that’s been submerged in water, whether it’s flood water or rain water, can be quite a daunting task. Here we’ll discuss a few different ways to begin the process.
A flood can happen in almost an instant, but drying out a home or other property can take a long time. Depending on the property you’re trying to dry out, using hot air drying techniques may damage the building, especially if it’s a historical one.
Before beginning the drying process, be sure to address the electrical hazard. Make sure all power to your home is completely off. Just because the power is off for all your neighbors, don’t assume that yours is off, too. This could be a very fatal mistake. Not only should you be careful of electrical hazards, but biological ones, as well. Flood waters such as those caused by Hurricane Katrina can be contaminated with human and animal waste, all manner of chemicals, and even cadavers. Protect your eyes, mouth, hands, and wear a respirator. Wash your hands in disinfectant soap after a session of cleaning and again before you eat.
Take pictures of the damage with a camera or if possible, videotape them. This documentation will make it easier when you begin negotiating with your insurance adjuster on what compensation you will be eligible for.
Make any repairs necessary to keep water from re-entering the home. These repairs should only be temporary while you get the majority of the building dried.
Any effort to begin drying out a home is the attic. Any wet insulation should be removed as quickly as possible; it is no longer useful, but it is heavy and holds moisture for quite a long time and will continue to cause damage to wood, metal, and drywall. If anything in the attic is soaked with water, remove it. These waterlogged items are heavy and can cause the ceilings to crack. Fresh air circulating through your home is a good way to begin and if you have any fans, turn them on once you’re confident that you can’t become electrocuted simply by walking around.
Opening the windows throughout the house (as long as it isn’t raining) will help and at this time you should begin to wash down any wooden items in the home in order to remove mud, silt, and other debris.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
A flood can happen in almost an instant, but drying out a home or other property can take a long time. Depending on the property you’re trying to dry out, using hot air drying techniques may damage the building, especially if it’s a historical one.
Before beginning the drying process, be sure to address the electrical hazard. Make sure all power to your home is completely off. Just because the power is off for all your neighbors, don’t assume that yours is off, too. This could be a very fatal mistake. Not only should you be careful of electrical hazards, but biological ones, as well. Flood waters such as those caused by Hurricane Katrina can be contaminated with human and animal waste, all manner of chemicals, and even cadavers. Protect your eyes, mouth, hands, and wear a respirator. Wash your hands in disinfectant soap after a session of cleaning and again before you eat.
Take pictures of the damage with a camera or if possible, videotape them. This documentation will make it easier when you begin negotiating with your insurance adjuster on what compensation you will be eligible for.
Make any repairs necessary to keep water from re-entering the home. These repairs should only be temporary while you get the majority of the building dried.
Any effort to begin drying out a home is the attic. Any wet insulation should be removed as quickly as possible; it is no longer useful, but it is heavy and holds moisture for quite a long time and will continue to cause damage to wood, metal, and drywall. If anything in the attic is soaked with water, remove it. These waterlogged items are heavy and can cause the ceilings to crack. Fresh air circulating through your home is a good way to begin and if you have any fans, turn them on once you’re confident that you can’t become electrocuted simply by walking around.
Opening the windows throughout the house (as long as it isn’t raining) will help and at this time you should begin to wash down any wooden items in the home in order to remove mud, silt, and other debris.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Stachybotrys Mold And You
We all know mold causes health damage, but one mold in particular called Stachybotrys chartarum can be extremely dangerous. Stachybotrys is the mold that most people think about when they think of “black mold” and for good reason.
Stachybotrys (sometimes called simply “stachy”) grows on water damaged wood and paper, but where it does not grow is plastic, the tiles in our kitchens and bathrooms, and concrete. Wood and water that has gotten wet and allowed to dry that way will become infected with the mold and it will spread to other areas in your house. It requires almost constant moisture in order to grow and thrive. Wet clothing tossed in the backs of closets and forgotten about is often found to have mold growing upon it. Stachy mold is usually a greenish-black, wet, and slimy when found and it requires cellulose products like paper, wood, and cotton in order to grow long term. Although the spores of wet mold do not easily enter the air, if the mold is allowed to dry out, it becomes more of a health hazard.
While stachy mold is not the only kind or even really the most common kind of mold found growing in these conditions, it is still one of the most dangerous kinds of mold to allow in your home or office because it kills brain cells and has similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s Disease. If you or anyone in your home are experiencing disorientation, memory loss, and the inability to think logically at times and are not at the age to be at risk for Alzheimer’s, a test for mold should be done to determine if this is the cause.
Common health complications due to exposure to this mold include asthma, pneumonitis, skin rashes, bloody noses, headaches, and other respiratory problems. Prolonged exposure can cause internal bleeding of the lungs, kidney failure, and liver failure. Pulmonary emphysema can also be caused by prolonged exposure to this and other black molds.
This mold is particularly likely to show up in homes or buildings that have been flooded or extensively water damaged and areas where constant leaks are present, such as water pipes and hot water heaters. Just touching this mold can cause skin rashes and because of the excessive health risks associated with it, it is often recommended that only trained mold removal specialists should be used to remove it from a home or building where it is present.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Stachybotrys (sometimes called simply “stachy”) grows on water damaged wood and paper, but where it does not grow is plastic, the tiles in our kitchens and bathrooms, and concrete. Wood and water that has gotten wet and allowed to dry that way will become infected with the mold and it will spread to other areas in your house. It requires almost constant moisture in order to grow and thrive. Wet clothing tossed in the backs of closets and forgotten about is often found to have mold growing upon it. Stachy mold is usually a greenish-black, wet, and slimy when found and it requires cellulose products like paper, wood, and cotton in order to grow long term. Although the spores of wet mold do not easily enter the air, if the mold is allowed to dry out, it becomes more of a health hazard.
While stachy mold is not the only kind or even really the most common kind of mold found growing in these conditions, it is still one of the most dangerous kinds of mold to allow in your home or office because it kills brain cells and has similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s Disease. If you or anyone in your home are experiencing disorientation, memory loss, and the inability to think logically at times and are not at the age to be at risk for Alzheimer’s, a test for mold should be done to determine if this is the cause.
Common health complications due to exposure to this mold include asthma, pneumonitis, skin rashes, bloody noses, headaches, and other respiratory problems. Prolonged exposure can cause internal bleeding of the lungs, kidney failure, and liver failure. Pulmonary emphysema can also be caused by prolonged exposure to this and other black molds.
This mold is particularly likely to show up in homes or buildings that have been flooded or extensively water damaged and areas where constant leaks are present, such as water pipes and hot water heaters. Just touching this mold can cause skin rashes and because of the excessive health risks associated with it, it is often recommended that only trained mold removal specialists should be used to remove it from a home or building where it is present.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Protect Your Water Pipes in the Winter
People who are spending their first winter in their new home and have never owned a home before might not think about the kind of damage a burst water pipe can cause. New homeowners don’t often think about this very real problem and it can lead to some very expensive consequences.
Water pipes in the home that are not properly insulated can freeze and burst in the winter if the temperature drops to below 20 degrees. Even a crack that is only one-eighth of an inch can let out over 250 gallons of water each day and the water damage this can cause can potentially be catastrophic. Your floors, clothes, carpet, and personal items will be damaged and as the water dries up and spring returns, it will leave you with a more serious problem. This problem is mold and when water damage to your home isn’t repaired correctly or not repaired at all, it can grow in your home and make your entire family become sick over time. While most insurance policies do not cover mold, water damage is usually covered to some extent. Preventing water damage to your home that is covered can help you prevent the mold damage to your home that isn’t covered and while any kind of water damage can cause this mold to grow, but burst frozen pipes are one of the easiest things to prevent.
One of the first things that you should do during the winter is cover your indoor water pipes with insulation. Where possible, make sure warm air can get to your pipes during a deep freeze. Do this either by opening the cabinets under your kitchen and bathroom sinks or placing a space heater in the room with these pipes. If you’re going to use space heaters, be careful and don’t leave them unattended for long or where they can possibly catch things on fire. Don’t use extension cords with space heaters and keep anything that could catch fire preferably over 5 feet away or you could be facing a fire damage problem instead of water.
Disconnect any garden hoses and make sure cracks in your home’s foundation are sealed so cold air, water, and snow can’t get inside to your pipes. Keeping a small bit of water running through hot and cold water faucets can also mean the difference between a busted and an un-busted pipe.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Water pipes in the home that are not properly insulated can freeze and burst in the winter if the temperature drops to below 20 degrees. Even a crack that is only one-eighth of an inch can let out over 250 gallons of water each day and the water damage this can cause can potentially be catastrophic. Your floors, clothes, carpet, and personal items will be damaged and as the water dries up and spring returns, it will leave you with a more serious problem. This problem is mold and when water damage to your home isn’t repaired correctly or not repaired at all, it can grow in your home and make your entire family become sick over time. While most insurance policies do not cover mold, water damage is usually covered to some extent. Preventing water damage to your home that is covered can help you prevent the mold damage to your home that isn’t covered and while any kind of water damage can cause this mold to grow, but burst frozen pipes are one of the easiest things to prevent.
One of the first things that you should do during the winter is cover your indoor water pipes with insulation. Where possible, make sure warm air can get to your pipes during a deep freeze. Do this either by opening the cabinets under your kitchen and bathroom sinks or placing a space heater in the room with these pipes. If you’re going to use space heaters, be careful and don’t leave them unattended for long or where they can possibly catch things on fire. Don’t use extension cords with space heaters and keep anything that could catch fire preferably over 5 feet away or you could be facing a fire damage problem instead of water.
Disconnect any garden hoses and make sure cracks in your home’s foundation are sealed so cold air, water, and snow can’t get inside to your pipes. Keeping a small bit of water running through hot and cold water faucets can also mean the difference between a busted and an un-busted pipe.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
